342
LENIN MISCELLANY

I have sketched out the plan of the booklet in general terms. I would like to finalize the agreement. The order of publication is chronological. Some letters, for example—the letter to Annenkov, in full; some—only excerpts.

To select material relating to theory: philosophy, economic theory, historical theory, on revolution, on class struggle, notes of a historical character; to politics: the proletariat and other classes, the workers' movement in various countries, assessment of political figures, petty bourgeois democracy.

Should we limit ourselves to theory and politics alone, or allocate some space to letters that illuminate Marx's life and are of interest for biography? It seems to me that we should not.

In the introductory article, briefly illuminate all questions and point out the most important passages of letters relating to them.

To the letters—annotations, so as to make them understandable.

23053

CORRECTION TO THE TRANSLATION OF K. MARX'S LETTER TO F. ENGELS
OF DECEMBER 2, 1866 ON THE HISTORY OF PRUSSIA*

April 1922

What do you say about Nefschâtel and Valangène? This case gave me occasion to fill in my very weak knowledge in the field of Prussian history. Indeed and indeed (that is truly) never has universal history produced anything more contemptible (etwas Lausigeres—literally more lice-ridden). A detailed history of how French kings, who were such only in name, became kings in reality, this history too is full of petty battles, betrayals, intrigues. But this is a history of the birth of a nation. Austrian history—about how a vassal of the Germanic Empire establishes the power of his house—is interesting in that this vassal deceives himself as an emperor, making use of various complications with the East, Bohemia, Italy, Hungary, etc. Finally, this history becomes interesting also in that the power of this house assumes impressive proportions and Europe begins to fear that this state will become universal monarchy. In Prussia nothing of the sort. It has not subjugated to itself any strong Slavic nation. For 500 years it did not even manage to obtain Pomerania, until finally this was arranged through an exchange.

Generally, the Margraviate of Brandenburg, since the Hohenzollerns took possession of it, has never accomplished any conquests—Silesia is the exception. Precisely because this is Prussia's only conquest, Frederick II is called "the sole" one. Petty trickeries (kleinliche Löffeldiebstähle), bribes (bribery), direct purchase (directe Ankäufe), pursuit of inheritances, etc.,—to such roguery and nothing else does Prussian history amount (auf solche Lumperei läuft die preussische Geschichte hinaus). Everything that is interesting in feudal history—the struggle of suzerain with vassals, affairs with cities, etc.,—all this is here in a caricatural-dwarfish form, because the cities here are trivially tedious, the feudals are insignificant rabble (rüpelhaft unbedeutend), and the supreme lord of the country is himself a trifle (ein Minimus)...

Moreover, in the list of rulers there are encountered only three characteristic figures, following one after another like night after day; irregularity is encountered exclusively only in the order of succession, and a new type never appears—a pietist (Pietist), an underofficer (Unteroffizier), and a vulgar buffoon (Hanswurst). Despite all this, the state was sustained by moderate mediocrity (aurea mediocritas), scrupulous bookkeeping, absence of extremes, punctiliousness in military regulations (Genauigkeit im Exerzierreglement), a certain homegrown vulgarity and "ecclesiastical ordinance" (Kirchenverordnung). C'est dégoûtant (that is disgusting).

*Translation made by V. V. Adoratsky.

Lumperei is not "roguery" but vileness? abomination? baseness?

Correct!

So it seems to me too.

Lenin

# LETTERS OF G. K. ORDZHONIKIDZE

2379

April 7, 1922

Comrade Sergo! Having spoken with Belenkii on the subject of our conversation yesterday, drop me a few lines, please, so that I know we have reached complete agreement and that there will be no "misunderstandings."

My nerves still ache, and headaches do not pass. To try treatment seriously, one must make rest into actual rest.

With your busyness, you will probably not manage to carry out yourself what we spoke of yesterday, and of course it would not be rational for you to undertake it. Find an executive person, attentive to details, and entrust it to him (then it will be more pleasant for me to scold someone other than you, incidentally).

Around May 7 I shall expect to receive from you a detailed map and information about a suitable place (or suitable places)—height above sea level, isolation and so forth and so on; also descriptions of these places and of those districts or provinces where they are located.

I must confess frankly that I have an extraordinary amount of distrust of the "borderlands"; from this distrust (and from aching nerves) I directly expect that some "fiasco" will come out instead of any treatment. Even here near Moscow I have happened to see how after a heap of promises, "fiascos" resulted, for the correction of which there remained but one thing: to depart from the designated place back to Moscow and await the "elimination of the fiascos" there. But from near Tiflis or from near Novorossiysk one cannot depart "back to Moscow." I fear, to be frank, a long journey: there might come exhaustion, nonsense, and hustle and squabble instead of treatment for my nerves.